Eric O’Neill Speaker Biography
Cybersecurity Expert, Legendary FBI Spy Hunter, Technology Futurist, Bestselling Author & Attorney
Eric O’Neill is one of the world’s foremost cybersecurity experts, former FBI counterintelligence operative, attorney, bestselling author, and internationally sought-after keynote speaker. Best known for his role in capturing Robert Hanssen—the most damaging spy in FBI history—Eric’s remarkable true story inspired the critically acclaimed film Breach, starring Ryan Phillippe as O’Neill. Today, he helps organizations understand and defend against today’s most significant cybersecurity threats, including artificial intelligence, insider threats, ransomware, cyber espionage, social engineering, and nation-state attacks. Combining gripping firsthand stories from the front lines of counterintelligence with practical business strategies, Eric equips leaders to protect their organizations in an increasingly complex digital world.
Keynote Speaker Eric O’Neill at a Glance
- Former FBI counterintelligence operative whose undercover work helped expose Robert Hanssen, the most damaging spy in FBI history.
- Founder of The Georgetown Group, cybersecurity strategist, attorney, and nationally recognized expert on cybercrime, AI, insider threats, and corporate security.
- Bestselling author of Gray Day and Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime, and the real-life inspiration behind the Hollywood film Breach.
- Trusted keynote speaker for Fortune 500 companies, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, technology companies, government agencies, and cybersecurity conferences worldwide.
The FBI’s Most Famous Spy Investigation
Eric O’Neill began his FBI career after graduating from the Bureau’s prestigious Intelligence Program, serving as a member of the Special Surveillance Group responsible for tracking foreign intelligence officers, terrorists, and suspected spies. His work demanded extraordinary discipline, discretion, and the ability to operate unnoticed while gathering critical intelligence. In 2001, O’Neill was selected for one of the FBI’s most dangerous undercover assignments—working directly alongside veteran FBI agent Robert Hanssen, who had secretly spent more than two decades selling highly classified U.S. intelligence to Russia. By gaining Hanssen’s confidence while operating inside the FBI’s Information Assurance Division, Eric played a critical role in exposing what became one of the greatest espionage cases in American history.
From Counterintelligence to Cybersecurity
Following his FBI career, Eric founded The Georgetown Group, a premier investigative and security consultancy specializing in cybersecurity, counterintelligence, insider threats, corporate investigations, economic espionage, fraud prevention, and executive risk management. He has also served as National Security Strategist for Carbon Black, VMware Carbon Black, and Broadcom, advising organizations on emerging cyber threats, ransomware, data protection, and national security. More recently, Eric expanded his work into artificial intelligence security as founder of NeXasure AI, helping organizations prepare for the rapidly evolving risks posed by AI-powered cyberattacks and digital deception.
Leading Expert on Cybercrime and Artificial Intelligence
Eric is widely recognized for helping organizations understand how today’s cybercriminals exploit technology, artificial intelligence, deepfakes, ransomware, phishing attacks, and trusted insiders to compromise businesses. His presentations translate complex cybersecurity concepts into practical strategies that executives, employees, and technology leaders can immediately implement. Rather than focusing solely on technology, Eric emphasizes the human side of cybersecurity—how trust, culture, leadership, and awareness remain an organization’s strongest defenses against increasingly sophisticated attacks.
Bestselling Author and Media Contributor
Eric is the author of the bestselling memoir Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America’s First Cyber Spy, which recounts his extraordinary role in bringing down Robert Hanssen and inspired the major motion picture Breach. He also authored Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime: Cybersecurity Tactics to Outsmart Hackers and Disarm Scammers, offering practical guidance for individuals and organizations navigating today’s digital threat landscape. His expertise has been featured by CNN, Fox News, ABC News, NPR’s Fresh Air with Terry Gross, C-SPAN, 20/20, Nightline, Washington Journal, Newsweek, TechCrunch, and numerous other national and international media outlets covering cybersecurity, espionage, national security, and emerging technologies.
Leadership Under Pressure
Beyond cybersecurity, Eric’s story demonstrates how leaders can perform under extraordinary pressure while making difficult decisions with incomplete information. His experiences confronting one of history’s most dangerous spies provide valuable lessons about courage, adaptability, trust, critical thinking, and maintaining confidence when the stakes are highest. His ability to connect real-world espionage with modern business challenges makes his presentations especially valuable for organizations navigating rapid technological change, increasing cyber risk, and complex leadership decisions.
Why Organizations Book Eric O’Neill
Eric O’Neill delivers unforgettable keynote presentations that combine true FBI espionage stories with practical lessons on cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, leadership, risk management, and organizational resilience. His engaging storytelling, deep technical knowledge, and actionable advice help audiences better understand today’s evolving threat landscape while equipping them to strengthen their security culture and protect their organizations. His presentations are ideal for cybersecurity conferences, financial institutions, healthcare organizations, technology companies, government agencies, defense contractors, legal organizations, and corporate leadership events seeking one of the world’s foremost experts on cybercrime, espionage, insider threats, and the future of digital security.
Eric O’Neill Speaking Topics
Cybersecurity: Spies, Lies & Cybercrime: Protecting Your Data in a Dark Web Economy
Dive headfirst into the battleground where foreign spies, deepfakes, and Dark Web criminals conspire to steal from you. Today’s adversaries are relentless and cunning. They’re exploiting every vulnerability, deploying an arsenal of generative AI bots and bandits. As we hurtle towards the future, cybertheft will take over $20 trillion USD from organizations just like yours. Join cybersecurity expert and legendary FBI spy hunter Eric O’Neill in this unexpected presentation. With fresh stories that read like a thriller, Eric teaches you to think like a spy catcher and win. Objectives: • Understand why cybercrime is the fastest growing business on earth • Understand the connection between espionage and dark web cybercrime • Learn counter-intelligence techniques to protect yourself and your company from cybercrime • Learn to think like a spy hunter
Secrets from a Legendary Spyhunter: Decoding AI Deepfakes, Extortion & More
AI-generated voices, texts, and images pose a grave threat to national security—and to you. The latest jaw-dropping stories include kidnapping calls to parents who hear their child’s wrenching cries for help. Elaborate video conferences that dupe teams into funding projects by bad actors. Ransomware from cyber-extortionists who hold your data hostage. In a world where technology drives our lives, you must take new steps to protect yourself and your organization. With his characteristic wit and storytelling, cybersecurity expert and legendary spy hunter Eric O’Neill tells you how to identify AI-fueled attacks…and stop them from taking your money. Objectives: • Understand how Generative AI has allowed cybercriminals to scale operations and improve attacks • Understand how cybercriminals use deepfakes to deceive victims • Learn how new advances in AI will change security • Learn what you can do to protect yourself from deep-fake cyber attacks
Leadership Under Pressure: What You Can Learn from Spies, Bond & Bourne?
What separates extraordinary leaders from everyone else? It isn’t luck. It isn’t perfect planning. And it certainly isn’t having all the answers. Former FBI counterintelligence operative Eric O’Neill knows what it’s like to make life changing decisions under extraordinary pressure. Tasked with helping expose Robert Hanssen, the most damaging spy in FBI history, Eric was thrust into an assignment he wasn’t trained for, against an adversary who had defeated the FBI for more than two decades. In this highly interactive masterclass, Eric combines gripping stories from the front lines of espionage with practical leadership lessons that every executive, entrepreneur, and professional can apply immediately. Through live audience polling, decision making exercises, and real world case studies, participants will discover how elite intelligence professionals assess risk, respond to uncertainty, recover from failure, and lead when the stakes are highest. Whether you’re leading an organization, building a business, or navigating your own pivotal career decisions, you’ll leave with a proven framework for making better decisions under pressure and inspiring others to do the same. The greatest lessons in leadership don’t come from the boardroom. Sometimes they come from the hunt for a spy. Participants will learn how to: • Recognize opportunities before they disappear. • Make confident decisions without waiting for perfect information. • Turn setbacks and unexpected challenges into competitive advantages. • Invest time where it creates the greatest impact. • Build momentum through small wins when the odds seem stacked against them. • Take ownership of decisions and lead with courage and accountability.
Eric O’Neill Books
Spies, Lies, and Cybercrime: Cybersecurity Tactics to Outsmart Hackers and Disarm Scammers
Purchase Book
Gray Day: My Undercover Mission to Expose America’s First Cyber Spy
Purchase BookEric O’Neill Videos
Eric O’Neill Articles
Eric O’Neill Speaker Testimonials
"Eric O’Neill’s presentation on “An Insider's Look into the Robert Hanssen Investigation: How the FBI Caught the Worst Spy in American History” is a breathtaking insight into one of the worst spies in United States history. Eric presented on never before heard facts that wowed the audience and left everyone wanting more. His professional approach and mild mannered attitude were spot on for an engaging delivery. Everyone was so focused on Eric for the full hour that you could have heard a pin drop in a room of 1,000+ attendees. Eric is truly a once in a lifetime speaker that everyone should see and hear in person!"
- | NCMS Seminar Committee
"Eric O’Neill totally captured our conference audience with his insights on cybersecurity and its similarity to locating spies within. Approximately 250 people were fully engaged and asking for more at the end of the hour. Eric is definitely a powerful speaker and not-to-be missed."
- | Kathy Kimball, CISO University of Virginia
"Eric was the perfect guest speaker for our event. With an audience of IT Security folks, he not only captivated the room with his thrilling espionage story, but also incorporated our latest cybersecurity report and other cybersecurity themes into his talk. Eric has a long list of interesting topics he can speak on, and we hope that we can bring him back to speak again in the future."
- CloudLock | Carrie Page , Manager, Events & Partner Relations
Eric was a pleasure to work with. He brought extremely relevant content to the audience and had them captivated by his stories and message through the entire session. The audience survey results were outstanding! I would recommend Eric to any organization looking for a dynamic and entertaining speaker!
- | Senior Manager - Conferences, The Institute of Internal Auditors
